Common Wombat

Common Wombat - Ark.au

Vombatus ursinus

Other Names: Coarse-haired wombat, bare-nosed wombat

Size: Head-to-body 85-120 cm. Tail 2-3 cm.

Family: Vombatidae (wombats), 3 living species.

Distribution: Patches of Southeast Australia (NSW and Vic.), a tiny part of Southeast SA, all of Tasmania.

Status: Least concern. Protected in Western Vic.

Habitat: Wet and dry open forests, woodlands, scrubs and wet heaths to an altitude of 1800 metres above sea level.

References: Cronin's Key Guide to Mammals, Van Dyck, Gynther and Baker, Menkhorst and Knight, Wikipedia.

About the Common Wombat

Common wombats look cute, cuddly and friendly but they are solitary and agressive. Mainly nocturnal. They live in burrows which can be up to 30 metres long and have several entrances. They can run at speeds up to 40 km/h over short distances (faster than a person can run).

Traces: Scats are cube-shaped pellets about 2 cm across, dark-brown outside, fine green plant fragments inside, usually in piles of 4-8 in conspicuous places.

Common Wombat - Vombatus ursinus - Ark.au
Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. Higher Resolution 2967 x 1983.

Common Wombat - Vombatus ursinus - Ark.au
Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. Higher Resolution 2889 x 1926.

Common Wombat - Vombatus ursinus - Ark.au
Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. Higher Resolution 2955 x 1970.

Common Wombat - Vombatus ursinus - Ark.au
Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. Higher Resolution 2634 x 1785.

Common Wombat - Vombatus ursinus - Ark.au
Photo: Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney NSW. Higher Resolution 2961 x 1974.

Common Wombat - Vombatus ursinus - Ark.au
Distribution of Common Wombat. Image by Chermundy at Wikipedia.

See Also

Australian Birds
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces
Australian Wild Plant Foods

Return to Australian Mammals